The Best Restaurants In Gozo, Malta

Tmun Mgarr is situated right above the seashore, on the banks of Mgarr harbor. Walking in from the Gozo ferry’s drop-off point, it is clear this restaurant sets high standards for the Gozitan culinary landscape. It is run by husband and wife team Jane and Leli Buttigieg who have been serving meat dishes, pasta and a range of seafood specialities for more than 25 years. Particularly worth noting is the couple’s very own Bouillabaisse soup, made using no less than seven varieties of fish.

Maldonado Bistro is hidden in the backstreets of Victoria, housed slightly below street level in a series of cellars graced with limestone arches, all of which makes for an intimate and warm atmosphere. Particularly popular with locals, and named in honor of a benevolent Governor of Gozo during the 17th century, this restaurant serves a satisfying mix of Mediterranean cuisine sourced directly from local suppliers. Specials include tagliolini pasta sauteed with calamari, sun-dried tomatoes and Gozitan cheese, and a creative antipasto made from local figs, ricotta, and Parma ham.

Strictly speaking Maxokk is not a restaurant, but more of a bakery. There is no seating area, no indoors where guests can hang out, and yet on a busy day, this place has some of the longest lines in Malta of locals and foreigners waiting to be fed. The speciality and must for any foodie visiting the island is their Gozitan Ftira. Looks a lot like a pizza but made with the same dough used to make local flat-bread. The set of topping options are rich in rustic flavors of capers, olives, Gozitan cheese, and anchovies.

Located in a house on the village square of the small rural village of Qala, Ta’ Vestru is a small family run restaurant serving generous portions of traditional Maltese food and an array of international crowd pleasers for the less adventurous. Food at this establishment may take a while to leave the kitchen, yet this should only put guests’ mind to rest as to the authenticity of its preparation. Seafood pasta dishes, rabbit stew, and the lamb are particularly noteworthy. The size of the portions cannot be overemphasized enough, making for good value for money.

Address: 5, St. Joseph Square, Qala, Gozo, Malta. +356 2156 4589

Tucked away in a secluded corner of Xlendi bay slightly removed from the adjacent complex of restaurants, Ta’ Karolina carries the name of a natural cave in the vicinity. It is consistently popular with locals, who are attracted to the venue mainly by word of mouth. Though the restaurant serves anything from pasta to meat dishes, the order of the day is usually fish and seafood. The outdoor terrace is only meters away from the seashore and, depending on the time of day, it is more than probable guests get to observe local fisherman bringing in their catch or handling nets close to their huts.